NILI (SW) – Officials at Daikandi public health department say that due to drought and poverty in this province, the number of malnourished children has increased by 53 percent compared to last year.
General manager and press officer at Daikandi department of public health nutrition department, Zainullah Timuri told Salam Watandar that there were 16,951 malnourished children registered last year. “… and this year, there were 36,346 children, which shows a 53 percent increase. The reason is drought and people’s lack of knowledge and income.”
According to Timuri, at the moment, health groups and a number of organizations are providing public awareness to the people in the field of malnutrition in more than 141 health centers in different areas of this province.
The officials of Daikandi public health department mentioned the increase of humanitarian aid and allocation of funds for the fight against malnutrition as the reasons on the basis of which malnutrition can be prevented.
Residents of a number of districts in Daikundi told Salam Watandar that they want the officials of the public health department of this province to provide treatment for malnourished children in the districts.
Haider, a resident of Shahristan district, said: “At first, my child was very weak, suffering from malnutrition, now his condition is better. We want the government to provide us with services, build a clinic, so that our children can be treated.”
Doctors cite poverty, lack of public awareness, migration and lack of proper food as the reasons for the increase in malnutrition cases in this province.
ENDS
